Page 62 of She’ll Steal Your Heart
“Well, I am. Not that I haven’t enjoyed sharing your apartment, because I have,somuch, but I need to do this for myself. I need to stand on my own two feet again. It’s important to me, and it’s probably good for us too. It might be a strain on our relationship if we were workingandliving together. It’ll be good to have a little separation.”
“It could be a strain. Itshouldbe, but somehow I haven’t gotten sick of you yet,” Mia said, dipping her head to give Lauren another kiss.
“And this way, you still won’t.”
“Still won’t like it either.” Mia kept kissing her, drunk off the feel of Lauren’s lips on hers and the way her whole body rejoiced every time they touched.
“It’ll be good for us. I promise,” Lauren insisted.
If Mia had been able to think logically right now, she knew she would agree. It was important for Lauren to have equal footing in their relationship, for her to achieve the goals she’d set for herself when she came back to Brooklyn.
Mia had never experienced anything like this before. She and Lauren just seemed perfectly in sync. They worked well together. They lived well together. And if their kisses were any indication, they were going to be pretty damn compatible in the bedroom too. How could they possibly not be?
“I really need to get back out there,” Lauren murmured against her lips. “There isn’t an employee in the cat enclosure right now.”
“So responsible.” Mia gave her one more indulgent kiss before she released her and took a step back. “Fine, you get back to work, and I’m going to make our dinner reservations.”
“You got it, Boss Lady.” Lauren gave her a goofy smile.
Mia flinched. “Is that weird? Me being your boss? I didn’t really think about that in terms of our relationship.”
“Nah. I’m only working here part-time, and I’ve always been looking for a full-time job somewhere else. I think of you more as a friend than my boss.”
“Well, for the record, I’ll do my best to make sure nothing to do with our relationship affects your job, and if you ever feel like it is, please tell me.”
“I will, but I just can’t see it being a problem. I mean, I’m only here a few afternoons a week. You don’t hold my career in your hands or anything. Now, I’m off to hang with the cats.” She pressed her lips against Mia’s, and then she left her office.
Mia walked around behind her desk and sat. Her head was spinning in the most wonderful way. This thing with Lauren had knocked her sideways, but it didn’t feel like she was off track. Instead, it felt like she’d been spinning in circles and now she was finally moving in the right direction.
* * *
Lauren discoveredone downside of living with the woman she was dating when she went upstairs to get dressed for dinner that night. She and Mia would have to get ready for their date together in the same apartment, which took some of the mystery out of things, but honestly, she didn’t really care, because she wasthatexcited for their date.
She spent a lot more time than usual in the bathroom, getting ready. She didn’t have many wardrobe choices right now, so she put on her nicest black pants with a gray top that plunged in the front, accenting it with a simple silver necklace. She fussed with her hair, touched up her makeup, and then she headed back into the living room.
Mia was in her bedroom with the door closed, so Lauren sat on the couch and picked up her phone. And then she gasped because she had an email from Quinn with the subject “Cover concept — I hope you love it!” Lauren stared at her phone, heart pounding in anticipation of seeing her first book cover. She didn’t open the email yet, though. Instinctively, she wanted to wait and share the moment with Mia.
Lauren’s knees bounced with nervous excitement as she waited for her. A few minutes later, the bedroom door opened, and Mia stepped out, wearing a sapphire-blue dress that draped elegantly over her curves. Her hair was pulled back from her face, emphasizing her cheekbones and her pink lips, andwow.
“I’m so glad you saved that dress for our date, because I don’t know how I would have possibly hidden how much I love it if you’d been wearing it for someone else. Seriously, you look so gorgeous,” Lauren gushed as she stood. She’d had to hide her feelings while Mia dressed up for so many other dates, and it was unbelievably freeing to be able to tell her how beautiful she looked tonight.
“Thank you.” Mia’s eyes sparkled as she walked toward her.
Lauren didn’t even notice Mia had a hand behind her back until she brought it forward, holding out a bouquet of flowers.
“Oh,” Lauren gasped as she stared at the flowers, a mixture of fall colors with some greenery mixed in. They were so pretty, and the woman holding them was even prettier, and Lauren had completely lost the ability to form words.
“You look fantastic,” Mia said as she gave Lauren the flowers.
Lauren closed her fingers around the paper sheath surrounding the bouquet. There were red roses and orange flowers that might be lilies and several others she couldn’t identify by name. She bent her head and inhaled, intoxicated by their scent.
“Do you like them?” Mia asked, reminding Lauren she still hadn’t said anything.
She looked up, blinking away the moisture in her eyes. “I love them. They’re…they’re so beautiful. No one’s ever given me flowers before. Thank you.”
Mia reached out to touch Lauren’s necklace, her fingers brushing against the delicate skin of her neck. “In that case, I might have to find more excuses to buy them for you.”
“When did you get them?” Lauren asked, cradling the flowers in her arms.
